Structure for folding orchard tent for protection against train

ABSTRACT

An orchard tent folding structure comprises two frame sets and a shelter member having a plurality of tubular members and a plastic cloth. The frame sets comprise a rod member which is provided with a power source to drive the rod member to turn, a sprocket wheel and a slide wheel linked with the sprocket wheel by a chain member. The sprocket wheel turns along with the rod member. The chain member is formed of a chain section and a steel cable section. The shelter member is fastened at one side with the chain section, and at other side with a first steel cable and a second steel cable of the frame sets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cultivation equipment offruit trees, and more particularly to a structure for folding an orchardtent which is intended to provide the orchard with protection againstthe rain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional way of growing the fruit frees is generally carried outin the open field without a shade for protection against the rain, whichis often a culprit for various diseases of the fruit trees.

The use of pesticide or fungicide is a common practice for controllingthe pathology of the fruit trees. However, in light of the pesticide orfungicide being harmful to the environment in which we live, the fruitfarmers have a propensity to use as little pesticide or fingicide aspossible. For this reason, an orchard tent is commonly used by the fruitfarmers to provide fruit trees with protection against the rain, so asto minimize the pathological incident in the orchard. In addition, theorchard tent serves to reduce the frequency of spraying fungicide orpesticide in view of the fact that the fungicide or pesticide is apt towash away by the rain. As a result of reduction in frequency andquantity of the pesticide or fungicide that is sprayed, there will beless residue of the pesticide or fungicide on the fruit.

The conventional orchard tent must be erected on site. The erection ofthe conventional orchard tent is rather time-consuming.

This inventor of the present invention discloses in the People'sRepublic of China utility model Patent No.ZL 00217491.X an orchard tentwhich is intended to provide protection against the rain. However, theorchard tent so disclosed also works to shield the sunlight which isessential to the photosynthesis of fruit trees. As a result, the orchardtent must be rolled up on a sunny day, so as to enable the fruit treesin the orchard to be exposed to the sunlight. The orchard tent is rathercumbersome and is set up at a considerable height, thereby making itdifficult to be folded manually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an orchardtent with a folding structure to facilitate the folding of the orchardtent that is erected in the orchard to provide fruit trees withprotection against the rain.

The features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the followingdetailed description of two preferred embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a portion indicated by an “A” circle asshown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a portion indicated by a “B” circle asshown in FIG. 1,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views of the present invention in operation,and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, an orchard tent folding structure of the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the componentparts which are described hereinafter.

Two frame sets 10 comprise a first support 11 and a second support 12separated from the first support 11 by a predetermined distance. A firststeel cable 13 is mounted on the top of one side of the first and thesecond supports 11 and 12. A second steel cable 14 is mounted on otherside of the first and the second supports 11 and 12 such that the secondsteel cable 14 is parallel to the first steel cable 13.

A shelter member 20 comprises a predetermined number of tubular members21 and a transparent plastic cloth 22. The tubular members 21 areprovided in the underside with a notch 24 extending along thelongitudinal direction thereof. The transparent plastic cloth 22 isspread out by means of a plurality of soft plastic bars 25 which areinserted into the notches of the tubular members 21. Each tubular member21 is provided on the top of two longitudinal ends thereof with a safetyhook 23. The safety hooks 23 of the shelter member 20 catch the steelcables 13 and 14 before the plastic cloth 20 is completely spread out.

A rod member 30 is rotatable at both ends in supports 32 engaged on theinner side of the top segment of the first support 11 and is provided atthe midsegment with a power source 31, which is a motor, for driving therod member 30 to turn at a predetermined revolution.

Two sprocket wheels 40 are respectively mounted on two outer ends of therod member 30 such that the sprocket wheels 40 turn along with the rodmember 30.

Two slide wheels 50 are respectively pivoted to the inner side of thetop segment of two sides of the second support 12 such that the twoslide wheels 50 are corresponding in location to the two sprocket wheels40.

Two slide wheels 50 are respectively rotatable on the inner side of thetop segment of two sides of the second support 12 such that the twoslide wheels 50 are corresponding in location to the two sprocket wheels40.

As shown in FIG. 6, an orchard tent folding structure of the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention is different from thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention in design in thatthe former comprises a plurality of arcuate tubular members 21, whichenable the plastic cloth 22 to spread out to shape like an arch. Inorder to facilitate the folding of the orchard tent, the shelter member20 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention isprovided at the center of the top thereof with a third steel cable 15.In the meantime, each tubular member 21 is provided at the center of thetop thereof with a safety hook for catching the third steel cable 15. Inaddition, the first support 11 is provided in the inner side of themidsegment thereof with an upper sprocket wheel 70. The second support12 is provided in the inner side with an upper slide wheel 80 oppositeto the upper sprocket wheel 70. The upper sprocket wheel 70 and theupper slide wheel 80 are linked by a chain member 90. As the powersource 31 is started, both the rod member 30 and the upper sprocketwheel 70 are actuated to turn.

The left side of the shelter member 20 is fastened with the left end ofthe chain section 61. The front and the rear ends of the right side ofthe shelter member 20 are respectively fastened with the first steelcable 13 and the right end of the second steel cable 14.

On a sunny day, the power source 31 is started to actuate the rod member30 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction indicated by and arrow 100as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the chain section 61 of the chainmember 60 is pulled rightwards by the sprocket wheel 40. As the sheltermember 20 is in the unfolded state, the left side of the shelter member20 is fastened with the left end of the chain section 61 of the chainmember 60. As a result, the shelter member 20 moves rightwards at anappropriate speed along with the chain section 61 such that the sheltermember 20 is completely pulled to the right end as shown in FIG. 5. On arainy day, the power source 31 is started to actuate the rod member 30to rotate in a clockwise direction, so as to pull the shelter member 20back to be in the unfolded state as shown in FIG. 4.

The power source 31 of the present invention may be controlled by aremote control device.

As shown in FIG. 6, an orchard tent folding structure of the secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention is different from thefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention in design in thatthe former comprises a plurality of arcuate tubular members 21, whichenable the plastic cloth 22 to spread out to shape like an arch. Inorder to facilitate the folding of the orchart tent, the shelter member20 of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention isprovided at the center of the top thereof with a third steel cable 15.In the meantime, each tubular member 21 is provided at the center of thetop thereof with a safety hook for catching the third steel cable 15. Inaddition, the first support 11 is provided in the inner side of themidsegment thereof with an upper sprocket wheel 70. The second support12 is provided in the inner side with an upper slide wheel 80 oppositeto the upper sprocket wheel 70. The upper sprocket wheel 70 and theupper slide wheel 80 are linked by a chain member 90. As the powersource 31 is started, both the rod member 30 and the upper sprocketwheel 70 are actuated to turn.

The chain member 90 also has a chain section 91 and a steel cablesection 92.

What is claimed is:
 1. An orchard tent folding structure comprising: afirst support, and a second support separated from said first support bya predetermined distance, a pair of parallel steel cables fixed betweenthe first support and the second support, a plurality of tubular memberseach having a notch extending on an underside along a longitudinallength thereof and safety hooks on an upperside of opposite endsthereof, each of the plurality of tubular members being slidably engagedbelow and between the pair of parallel steel cables by the safety hooks,each of the plurality of tubular members having a plastic bar engagedwithin the notch with a transparent plastic cloth engaged between eachsaid plastic bar to form a shelter member, said first support having arod member rotatable engaged thereon, said rod member having a powersource to drive said rod member to rotate at a predetermined revolution,said rod member provided at two outer ends with a sprocket wheel mountedthereon to turn along with said rod member; a pair of slide wheelsrotatably mounted on said second support respectively coplanar with saidsprocket wheels, said sprocket wheels and said slide wheels beingrespectively linked by an endless member which has a chain section and asteel cable section, said chain section extending from a first endthereof from a bottom edge of said slide wheel toward said sprocketwheel so that a second end thereof engages with said sprocket wheel;wherein a first end of said shelter member is fixed at each said firstend of said chain section, and a second end of said shelter member isfixed to each of said pair of steel cables.
 2. The structure as definedin claim 1, wherein said tubular members have an arcuate constructionenabling said plastic cloth to form an arch when said plastic cloth isfully spread out, each of said tubular members having a safety hook atthe center of a top thereof slidably engaging a third steel cable fixedbetween the first support and the second support; said first supporthaving an upper sprocket wheel at a center thereof; said second supporthaving an upper slide wheel coplanar to said upper sprocket wheel linkedwith said upper sprocket wheel by a third chain member, wherein said rodmember and said upper sprocket wheel are actuated synchronously by saidpower source to turn.